It is easy to be won over by the universal moral or religious principles espoused by a skilled rhetorician such as Tony Blair. However, John Heathershaw argues that in politics, from university league tables to the war in Iraq, God is in the details.

In its literal sense "doing God" is a theological nonsense. Christianity itself suggests you can only really respond to an invitation to join in what God is already doing, says Jonathan Bartley. Nevertheless, the debate about it acts as a useful warning to politicians not to suck up to the religious, and to Christians to live out the values of the Gospel rather than defending their self-interest.

Measuring the number of times politicians mention or don't mention God misses the point, says Simon Barrow. The issue is whether the subversive language of the Gospel can challenge top-down religious and political systems.